You rarely hear someone say, "oh man, I would kill for a salad tonight!". And I can't say I'm surprised, for most of our lives we've been eating iceberg lettuce with shredded carrots topped with gooey dressing that comes from a plastic bottle and calling it a salad - yuck!

Luckily, for you lettuce-lovers, times are changing! It's easier than ever to find a variety of salad options worthy of securing one of your coveted three daily meals. Whether you're ordering off a menu, or making a salad at home here are a few tried and true tips for creating a swoon-worthy salad that packs a nutritional punch.

Choose fresh, dark, leafy greens. A few solid options include kale, arugula, romaine lettuce, swiss chard, and spinach. Although iceberg lettuce is the most popular lettuce (each of us eats 17 lbs/year on things like hamburgers and in taco salads) it's almost entirely devoid of nutrients so choose a darker variety for more nutritional bang for your buck. To learn more fun facts about leafy greens check out Leafy Greens Ranked and Rated.

Add something that tastes decadent (at least by salad standards) and fills you up. Here are a few ideas:

If you're looking for a little more inspiration, check out my Kale and Avocado Salad with Sesame Seeds. It's one of my favorites because it tastes delicious and can be kept for 2 - 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What are your favorite salad combos? Please share in the comments below!